Premiership: Relegation scrapped for this season amid Covid-19 pandemic

[Rossm]

Reported by the Beeb:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56044619

[Neils]

They do say Championship winners to be promoted. Let us hope!

[NellyWellyWaspy]

They do say Championship winners to be promoted. Let us hope!

Come on Ealing ....

[bigad82]

With minimum standards on and off the pitch.

[Horusthewasp]

I understand the rationale behind the decision but I hope it doesn’t have the unintended consequence of lowering the quality of rugby played.

They do say Championship winners to be promoted. Let us hope!

Come on Ealing ....

+1

[hookender]

At least report says not being ring fenced for season after.

Cmon Bedford, Coventry, Pirates......

[JonnyD]

Come on Ealing.

Shame the games they’ve already played again Sarries won’t count

[Skippy]

I said, come on Ealing...

If the Championship doesn’t run, promotion should be decided by a vote amongst the fans. Even if the means we end up with a team called Rugby McRugbyface it’s got to be better the Barnet Foxtons.

[Shugs]

Inevitable and on balance the right thing to do. Hoping Ealing can make a scrap of it. I wonder if Sarries are now the only team that is stronger when their players are on 6N duty?

[Neils]

I note that Pirates have had an influx of Chiefs dual registered.  Wishing them well! Also talk of Home Park whilst S4C being built if they were successful.  Hopefully they all go for the throat.

[Wiltshire Wasp]

I have only known club rugby with promotion and relegation.  I have read arguments for and against ‘ring fencing’ and think I understand them - each has merits.  There must be people here who have watched/played when there was no relegation. What difference does it make?  Are there (more) games where the players don’t try because there is nothing at stake?  Does it lead to more adventurous rugger as there is less fear? Etc. .....

In your opinion.

[Horusthewasp]

I have only known club rugby with promotion and relegation.  I have read arguments for and against ‘ring fencing’ and think I understand them - each has merits.  There must be people here who have watched/played when there was no relegation. What difference does it make?  Are there (more) games where the players don’t try because there is nothing at stake?  Does it lead to more adventurous rugger as there is less fear? Etc. .....

In your opinion.

Well it was almost this time last year when Saracens’ relegation was announced which effectively ring fenced the league for the remaining 11 teams for the second half of the season. In Wasps’ case, the fact we were no longer at risk of being in for a relegation battle was one of the reasons for the upswing in performance as the team played a more exciting and expansive brand of rugby.

Judging by the way Gloucester are playing against Bristol tonight (so far), the former seems to have been bitten by a similar bug.

[hookender]

Definitely got to have a penalty for failing.
 
 The only comparison is watching pro 14 and as was SH rugby. Yes some games can be good but nothing gives a game that extra edge when two teams are fighting for survival even for neutral spectators.

 Even tonight Ben Kay who was supposed to be giving case for ring fencing on BT admitted he was for relegation.

[hookender]

Taken from statement on Saracens official site

  It is likely that any season structures may also include a further moratorium on promotion and relegation for three or four seasons, after which the structure will be subject to further review.  Those proposals would be subject to a vote of the RFU Council before the end of the 2020/21 season.

[hookender]

Just a thought on scrapping relegation.

If when they audit the books for last year /previous and  possibly find a salary cap violation , would a points deduction/fine be sufficient or should a team be thrown out?